The last thing I thought would help me make friends, and know more people during freshers, was my accommodation. But let me just say, AUB’s Madeira Road halls are hands down the place to be.
It's daunting. Starting higher education is one thing, but living away from home for the first time is even more terrifying... at first. The move-in weeks had scheduled activities that helped break the ice and learn more about AUB. They also held some events over the year – my personal favourite was when they brought in adorable support dogs for mental health week.
Additionally, the common room became a social hotspot in Madeira, from movie nights and mixers to, notably, the most chaotic (and populated) game of Uno I've ever played. Since you're starting this new chapter with others, you'll find that most people are feeling the same uncertainty or nerves you are. Once you're well acquainted, you'll likely find yourself becoming friends with their flatmates too! Some of the core memories I've made with my friends were from visiting each other's flats to play games, watch stuff, attending flat parties or even cooking together, as it allowed me to get to know them more. That being said, do make sure that your flatmates are all informed and on board beforehand!
Something that really helped the transition when moving in were the friendly faces behind the desk, with 24-hour staff on standby to support you. When you do get a chance, please say hi to them – they're lovely. I must say though, it was definitely surprising to come back from a night out with them not batting an eye when we walked in.
Madeira Road is pretty secure, as all visitors have to pass through the main desk to enter the building. After a couple of weeks here, I quickly realised that my accommodation's situated where all the action's at. Something I'll miss when going into student housing is being walking distance from the beach, the shops and town. For your weekly shops, Lidl and ASDA are your best friends. Make sure to download the Lidl Plus app to get rewarded with freebies and discounts when you shop. Keep an eye out for reduced stock in the evenings too.
Trips home were also not an issue, since the station was only a 15-minute walk from accommodation. As for buses, it was honestly a shock to experience the friendliness of the drivers, as well as the general reliability to get from halls to university during contact hours. If possible, I'd highly recommend looking to invest in the UNIBUS annual pass, as you can use it to get on buses across Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch within Zone A – highly convenient for exploring the area and going on outings. A heads up for my fellow Londoners, you'll need to start reading the timetables signposted at the stop to know when your bus comes. Alternatively, the UNIBUS app also has the timetable on it.
To the person reading this right now, it's going to be ok. You should be proud of yourself for getting this far and being brave enough to take this big step. As you prepare to start this new chapter in your life, don't forget to be excited; there's an abundance of experiences, friends and memories to be made waiting for you.
